Swimming device



T. A. KUZNETZOFF,

SWIMMING DEVICE.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1920.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

INVENTORJ WITNESS:

' float and support a swimmer.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TIMOTHY -A KUZNETZOFF, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. I

swmmme I DEVICE.

T 0 all whom it may concern.-

- Be it 'known that I, TIMOTHY A. KUz- NETZOFF, citizen of Russia, and resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvement in Swimming Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the swimming devices and has a particular reference to such devices, which float themselves, thus supporting the swimmer, and at the same time are adapted to utilize the manual efforts of a swimmer to propel him on the surface of the water.

My 'inventionisexplained in detail in the following specification and drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of my swimming device, partly in section. Fig. 2 is an end view, Fig. 3 is a view, showing a swimmer using my device, Fig. 4 is a top view of a device, attached to the foot of a swimmer, Fig. 5 is a side view, Fig. 6 an end view, Fig. 7 is a modification. Fig. 8 is a detail view of a foot rest, Fig. 9 is a modification of a paddle wheel- My swimming device consists of two balls 1 made of a cork or similar material, which is lighter, than water. These balls are fastened to a crankshaft 2 with free turning handles 3. The ends of balls 1 have paddles 4, which may be made of wood. These paddles have projections 5, which fit into corres ponding holes in the cork of the balls. The outward sides of the balls arepartly cut away to make room for the paddles. The paddles are fastened with braces or hoops 6, the ends of which are riveted to the metal end plates 7 The ends of a crankshaft pass through these plates and are tightened with nuts 8.

This device, when placed in water, will By turning the shaft with the handles 3, the swimmer can propel himself in the water, as the balls, rotating with the shaft, will act as paddle wheels.

In the center of the shaft a spool 9 is provided with a strap 10 and a stirrup 11. This strap is ordinarily wound on the spool and may be retained in this position by means of a rubber band (not shown), but when a swimmer is tired, he may remove the rubber band unwind the strap full length and place his foot in a stirrup, thus supporting himself in a vertical position.

Fig. 9 shows a modification of a ball 1.

V Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 17, 1920. Application filed May 28, 1920. Serial No. 384,938.

In this case it is shown to have a central groove 12,'in which paddles 13 are fitted. These paddles have grooves on the edges, into which wires 14 are fitted. The ends of the wires are fastened to the end plates 7.

' lVhen turning the crankshaft a swimmer needs a rest .for his feet, which is provided by the special sandals 15. These sandals are fastened to the feet with straps 16, and they have flapping or hinged plates 17.

These plates have hinges 18 and lugs 19.

These lugs prevent the flappers from turning on the wrong side. For the same ur pose the ends are slightly bent, 20. he sandals are left and right and are fastened to the feet accordingly.

The operation of the flappers is such, that when a swimmer pushes his foot against the water, then the flapper or plate 17 turns on the side, away from his body, thus offering a greater resistance to the water. When swimmer draws his foot toward himself, then the plate hangs loose not offering any resistance to the motion. The bends 19 and 20 insure, that the right plate turns to the right, and aleft one to the left. This is important to prevent the swimmer from injuring his feet against these plates. Fig. 6 shows one side of the sandal 15 raised, which may be useful to prevent the body from moving inward, when pushing the foot. Such arrangement will permit also a larger curvature 20 to help the plate to flap on the side quickly, when the foot begins to push the water.

Important advantages of my invention are, that it can enable a swimmer to float on the water, to propel himself efficiently, rest when he is tired and also to learn swimming by learning to coordinate movements of his hands and feet.

I claim as my invention:

1. A swimming device, the combination with a crankshaft, floating balls on the end of said crankshaft, and paddles attached to and forming a part of said balls.

2. A swimming device, the combination with a crankshaft, floating balls on the ends of said crankshaft, recesses in said balls, paddles inserted in said recesses, and hoops liplding together said balls and said pad- 3. A swimming device, the combination with a crankshaft, floating members attached to the ends of said crankshaft, said floating members being made of a material,

I paddles fitted in said recesses, hoops holding together said members and said paddles,

a spool located in the middle of said crank g one side, to the right and to the left for the right and left feet respectively.

shaft, a strap wound on the spool and stirrup on the end of said strap.

4:. A swimming device, the combination with a crankshaft, floating members attached; to the ends of said crankshaft, paddles on said floating members, said crankshaft being adapted-to be manually operated, and sandals adapted to provide foot rests for the operator. 7

' 5. A swimming device, the combination with a crankshaft, floating members attached to said crankshaft, paddles on said floating members, said crankshaft being adapted to be manually operated, and'sandals for the operators feet, said sandals hav ing hinged plates adapted to swing'to one side, I

6. A swimming device, the combination with a crankshaft, floating members on the ends of said crankshaft, paddles on said mea er floating members, said crankshaft "being adapted to be manually operated, and sandals for the operators feet, said sandals having hinged plates adapted to swing to r. A swimming device, the combination with a crankshaft, floating members on said crankshaft, paddles on said floating members, said crankshaft being adapted tobe manually operated, a-spool in the middle of the crankshaft, a strap and a stirrup, a pair of sandals for the operators feet, swinging plates on saidsandals, extensions on the plates ,nearthe hinges'to prevent said plates from swinging in thewrong direction, and a partly bent portion'on the 'tips of said plates to, facilitate their swinging in the right direction. I Signed at New York in the'county of New Yorkand State of New York this 22 day of MayA.D.l920.

TIMOTHY A. KUZNETZOFF. 

